With another year passing, we look forward to what 2008 will bring for MMO games such as the launch of Warhammer, Age of Conan, Pirates of the Burning Seas, and more. When we focus on Tabula Rasa, what can we expect to see? With launch only a few short months behind us, the Development team has been working on bug fixes, and critical content additions which we've seen in a number of updates. There have been a number of features outlining what is coming in the immediate future, but I'd like to talk about what what many of the players are voicing and where I think the developers will very likely spend their time next year. This is all of course just one writers opinion but is based on game experience, hundreds of forum posts, and numerous arguments in General channel.

One of the most frequent concerns we've seen this year is a need for more content in the post level 30 game. Most players would agree once the Mires and Plateau missions dry up it's quite challenging to avoid grinding levels. Content needs to be plugged in to various places to provide a flow of progression from area to area so players can always see the next hop just on the horizon. While this is the case now, following those hops will usually land you in encounters you just aren't strong enough to handle on your own. And this isn't ignoring the fact there are things like control point defense and assaults you can participate in, but some players are very attached to mission based objectives (including me).

In fairness to the development team they've done an admirable job of putting additional content in the lower zones. A great example of this is the missions found in Palisades control points Fort Dew and River Base Krimm from the last patch. As time goes on and more updates roll out I have no doubt we'll see more from them on this, it's just a matter of being patient.

Along the same lines of additional post 30 content, is expanded zones. Very few MMO games go an entire year without an expansion so it's very likely we'll see something which is rumored to contain a new race. Along with that new race could come a new starting area which should add a new element of replayability to the lower levels. Adding new races and starting areas has historically reinvested player interest in World of Warcraft, EverQuest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, and more so taking a play from old school games might be in order.

What this boils down to is many players want options on where to play, and what to do. This isn't an argument that a linear style of progression is necessarily a bad thing. Quite the contrary it not only makes directions clearer to the players but provides a very visible reward. However, after you've reached that goal the first time, subsequent attempts will feel less exciting. Alternative leveling options are coming, mark my words.

If there is one topic that is debated, argued, or yelled about on a regular basis it's Player vs Player content. Whether it's a discussion on whether PvP players are more skilled or request #821 for a open PvP server, rest assured this content is not only necessary but enjoyed by many. 2008 will very likely bring some major enhancements to the PvP game as many are looking for more than squad based combat. The question is, will NCsoft go the safe route and build a "Battlegrounds" type system allowing capture the flag, or do they have something more diabolical up their sleeves?

Based on interviews and Q&A's next year will see some special control points or zones specifically designed for PvP players. My guess is a simplistic system that allows not only hardcore but casual players which would provide science fiction combat that hasn't been found in a game since Star Wars Galaxies or Planetside. We can also expect to see a system of rewards beyond the simple rankings online. Titles, gear, and access to special abilities will provide the motivation for people to continue to jump in.

Finally, the last area of gameplay I think we'll see improvement on is a clearer definition between solo and squad based missions and content. Currently, figuring out what you can handle on your own is decided based on whether it's an instance or not. Non-instanced content is considered solo unless it's too high level, and you can kind of see what I'm getting at. While the group vs solo debate has been raging wild for the last few years, neither side will argue that bringing a group of people together for something can be a lot of fun. An MMO game that can capitalize on that but provide a solo option will be a clear victor in the market.

So there you have it, my predictions for 2008. I hope the above did not communicate I feel the Tabula Rasa team isn't doing a great job. I just see a few opportunities I think they'll be likely to exploit this coming year.

Agree or disagree with me? Head over to our forums to discuss.